August 2006
Keep Your Tools Cool;
The Importance of Air Conditioning, Fans and Maintenance in the Office
by Clara D. Fyffe
When's the last time you stopped to notice how your computer sounds - not the sound of your hard drive working, but the whir of the internal fans? When's the last time any of you opened the case and physically checked the fans in your computers? How long has it been since you bought canned air and "blew out" the computer tower? And, do you leave a ceiling fan running in your office whenever there are computers or printers running?
With today's super fast processors and other components, the heat generated is much higher than in the past few years. Simple tiny fans just don't cool enough anymore. And if you want to keep your equipment running smoothly without literally smokin', you're going to have to keep them cool.
One of the cooling devices used more and more is the heat sink. Actually, heat sinks are used in all the current high-end computers. This is a special cooling unit that lowers the temperature of a computer by dissipating heat from the computer's parts into the air. Heat sinks are generally made of an aluminum alloy and have a specific form for the most effective cooling. Some heat sinks work alone, but most use a fan to assist with the cooling and also help to prevent condensation, which is what you don't want. Water and electricity are bitter enemies!
Now, keep in mind that the processor fans are not the only fans you need inside that case. Other parts inside the computer get hot, too, and need to be cooled. The best way, of course, is to move the air in and out of the case.
Most computers nowadays come with two fans, one in the front that pulls cool air into the unit, and the other fan incorporated into the power supply, pushing the hot air out of the computer's rear vents. I personally add an additional fan - and sometimes a dual-turbo fan - into my machines to make absolutely, positively certain that my computers will remain happily cool and functioning smoothly. I've been through a major "meltdown" and will not allow that again!
Equipping your computers with all these fans isn't enough, though. Maintenance and general cleaning are essential to the cooling, as well. For example, in my office I have two high-end desktop computers with fast processors, a G5 heavy-duty Mac iBook, four large printers, a TV, a home-theater surround sound audio system, quite a few external computer peripherals, and a bunch of odds-and-ends gizmos. I mention all of these because they're all on 24/7, and that generates a lot of heat, not only within the individual units themselves, but in the office as a whole.
Make sure you periodically open your computer tower and use the canned air to blow out the dust and dirt. Be sure to carefully include each part, including the fans. Remember to clean the outside vents, too. Clean out or blow out the vents on each of your machines, including the backs of monitors and carefully inside your printers. The use of a gentle mini-vacuum is good for cleaning outside vents on equipment, too, as well as keyboards. And don't forget your electrical plug-ins, extension cords, and surge protectors! These gather "dust bunnies" that can cause overheating and catch fire.
Air conditioning is important in an office to help with keeping the equipment - and the operator - cool. I know that many people don't like too cool an office, but you must keep the temp down a little. Not only that, but if you use laser printers in your office, you're also sending out teeny-tiny little "soot" particles into the air you breathe. It's counter-productive to have both air conditioning and window exhaust fans operating at the same time. The next best solution, suggested by an ergonomic/health-conscious office organizer, is to install a wide-blade ceiling fan. I installed a 5-blade, 52" fan that also has directional lighting for double-duty. The organizer also said to keep your office door open. Running the fan at least on low all the time and keeping the door open not only circulates the cool air in the office, but also helps to dissipate the "laser soot" to keep it out of your lungs.
I'm not saying that you need to create a frozen tundra, but I am emphasizing that it's gonna cost ya' if you don't keep it cool. Myself, I like to be what most people call "chilly." (My brother asked me when it was going to start snowing in here!) No matter what, though, keeping your expensive equipment cool and clean is VITAL to a safe and successfully functioning office.
So, my Worker-Bee Buddies, CHILL OUT!
=================
